In addition to participating in a comprehensive head-to-head league fixture programme, many of the teams competing in the Oxfordshire Quiz League periodically assemble, in several locations, to challenge for silverware in a variety of themed ‘Tabletops’, spread across the season.

Already, during the present campaign, the Seacourt Bridge (Botley) has triumphed in the ‘Round Britain’ shoot-out, whilst the Bell (Grove) carried off the spoils in the ‘Telly’ contest.

Last Thursday witnessed the latest instalment, ‘Sport’, in which the North Oxford Conservative Club was seeking its fourth consecutive victory. Very short odds were offered on the Summertown outfit extending their impressive run but, despite a valiant defence of their crown, they were to come up just short.

In the leg staged at the Highwayman Hotel (Kidlington), the White Hart (Eynsham) prevailed, posting a healthy 172 points which would secure them fourth place overall on the night.

In a lower-scoring, but no less enthralling, affair at the Blue Boar (Chipping Norton), the home side narrowly failed to overhaul the Woodman (North Leigh) who racked up a score of 160.

However, it was the round at the Green Road Club (Kidlington) which provided the high drama of the evening, with a mere three points separating the eventual top three finishers.

Having been nip and tuck all night, and with the lead changing hands several times, it was Premier Section side, the Plough who sneaked home, registering a tremendous tally of 176, edging out the Con Club and the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon), both of whom ended up on 173.

This success will have, to some extent, redeemed what has been a somewhat indifferent season so far for the Wolvercote line-up.

This latest battle brought the county quizzing scene to its conclusion for 2011, and this column will now retire for the festive period, to reappear in early January with a report on the next event on the itinerary: the ‘1970s Tabletop’, accompanied by a preview of the following round of league fixtures, scheduled for January 12.

The Oxfordshire Quiz League runs two annual competitions.

The current tournament runs until the middle of April, after which there will be a short break before resuming with a slightly shorter summer format, the timings intended to coincide with those of the ‘Aunt Sally’ set-up.

If there are any landlords/tenants/quizzers who are thinking of joining in, please visit our website (address below) where contact details are provided.

It only remains for me to wish a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all Oxford Mail readers, as well as to the dozens of enthusiastic ‘quizzers’ (and their sponsors) across the county.